USMNT vs. Venezuela: Patrick Schulte to make his case, Tim Ream keeping hold at center back and who will start in attack?

Considering his talent, it feels like this camp should be about Patrick Schulte. Yet, there are no guarantees he will be the starter at goal when the U.S. kicks off its match against Venezuela on Saturday.

Schulte should get the nod in one game, if not both. He's the closest to that No. 1 goalkeeping spot but is also generally lacking international experience. The Columbus Crew goalkeeper could rise much like Matt Turner did last cycle and, ironically, pass the 2022 World Cup starter himself if he continues to struggle for playing time at the club level. For that to happen, though, Schulte needs to show that he can play consistently at a high level when he's called upon by the U.S.

Schulte does have some competition, though. NYCFC's Matt Freese was incredible in MLS last season and could argue that he was the league's best goalkeeper. On form, why shouldn't he start? He has a legitimate argument. Zack Steffen, a player that Pochettino is familiar with from the Premier League, will have his own, too.

Still, all eyes will be on Schulte as he looks to push Turner, starting with this match if he does get the nod.

There are only four designated midfielders in the USMNT squad. One of them, Diego Luna, is certainly an attacker at heart. So, how does Pochettino arrange his starting XI? What can he put together to get the best out of this group?

Jack McGlynn feels like an obvious starter, especially given his technical ability. McGlynn showed plenty of what he can do at the Olympics last summer, but 2025 may be the year he takes the leap. These matches won't be at the elite international level, but they are a test, particularly for a player like McGlynn who has obvious upside, but there are also some question marks -- especially with his athleticism.

Luna, meanwhile, is a true game-changing No. 10. This season with Real Salt Lake, he showcased his ability to create and score, earning MLS Young Player of the Year honors. His skill set seems tailor-made for a coach like Pochettino, but until he gets on the field under the manager, it’s all just speculation for U.S. fans and observers.

In addition, Benja Cremaschi comes in as a traditional No. 8 and a No. 6 in Emeka Eneli. How does Pochettino find the balance? It'll be tough, but there are only so many options to choose from, which is good news for this group as they look to make a good impression.

There are six forwards in camp. There's one cap between them. In total, in this squad, there's a collection of eight international goals spread among 21 players. It's a fair question to ask, then: where will the goals come from?

The squad features two designated strikers: Brian White and Patrick Agyemang. White is the one member of this attacking group with a cap, which also came in January camp. The 28-year-old Vancouver Whitecaps striker is also far and away the most experienced of this group with over 150 MLS matches under his belt.

Agyemang is more of a mystery at this level, in a way. He's a fun story: after starting college at D3 Eastern Connecticut State, he transferred to Rhode Island and played his way to MLS with Charlotte FC. This past season was his real breakout, as he seized Charlotet's starting job with a 10-goal season. Even at 24, he's still relatively inexperienced given his late start, but Agyemang showed real signs this past season in MLS.

Both appear to be far down the striker depth chart, but you never know. A goal or two can go a long way, even in January camp.

There's one non-MLS player in the squad, and his name is Matko Miljevic. If you aren't familiar with his story, it's a wild one.

Born in Miami, Miljevic came up through the academy system in Argentina before signing with CF Montreal in 2021. In 2023, he was released when he was caught playing in an indoor league under a fake name. During his time in that league, he was banned for assaulting another player. He then moved back to Argentina to sign with Newell's Old Boys, where he played well but was not re-signed, reportedly due to off-field conduct.

Miljevic is in USMNT camp, though, with a chance to get his career back on track. A product of Newell's himself, Pochettino is no doubt familiar with his game and was impressed by the attacker's stint with his old club. After camp, Miljevic will head back to Argentina to join a new club, Huracan, but this 2025 January camp feels like a good starting point to get things together.

Where and when will he play for Pocehttino? That remains to be seen. Miljevic is capable of playing either as an attacking midfielder or our wide, although U.S. Soccer has him listed as a forward if that means anything. Either way, as his career so far shows, Miljevic is nothing if not exciting. Let's see if he can bring some of that onto the field for the USMNT this January.

Yes, January camp is a good chance for new faces. Yes, Pochetinno will learn something against the Venezuela team, which does have some familiar faces and experienced players on it. Even so, the question has to be asked: what does it all mean?

Jalen Neal, John Tolkin, and Jesus Ferreira, three players with actual cases to be in and around the USMNT, have departed camp, leaving few legitimate USMNT contenders still involved. The veterans like Tim Ream, Walker Zimmerman, and Miles Robinson are there, yes, but you know who and what those guys are. Further down the roster, there are only a handful of guys in this team who have shown they can potentially contribute to the USMNT A-team in the near future. So, with that in mind, what can Pochettino take out of it all?

As always with these camps, it's about the micro and not the macro. Individual performances are all that matter here; not results. Pochettino will be looking for certain things and he's likely already seen a lot in training. The matches are more of an added bonus.

So, with that in mind, sit back, relax, and watch for the little things: how a player handles pressure, how a player takes his chances -- whether that's a cross-field pass, a big goal-saving tackle. Those are the moments Pochettino will be on the lookout for, particularly from the unfamiliar faces new to this setup.